This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting Edward J. Glowka's service with the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. The scrapbook was created by Glowka's wife, who he met after the war. The scrapbook contains mainly black and white photographs but also includes one hand-tinted photograph of Glowka in uniform; a "Domain of the Golden Dragon" certificate for crossing the International Date Line; two patches; an original pencil sketch of Glowka, in uniform, signed by [first name unreadable] Faier; a "Neptunus Rex" certificate for crossing the Equator; and two copies of Glowka's Separation Qualification Record issued by the U.S. Army Air Forces. The photographs vary in size and were taken in many places including Biak, Papua, Indonesia; Guam; Manila, the Philippines; and Saipan, Mariana Islands. Glowka appears in a number of the photographs. The photographs show daily life on base; military personnel; bombing damage; local citizens and their daily activities; ships; and nose art on aircraft. Aircraft depicted in the photographs include the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress; North American P-51 Mustang; Consolidated B-24 Liberator; Boeing B-29 Superfortress; Bristol Beaufighter; Douglas C-54 Skymaster; Curtiss C-46 Commando; Douglas A-20 Havoc; Consolidated PBY Catalina; Grumman JF Duck; Northrop P-61 Black Widow; North American B-25 Mitchell; Curtiss P-40 Warhawk; Boeing SB-17 Flying Fortress; Douglas C-47 Skytrain (including an example on floats); Republic P-47 (F-47) Thunderbolt; General Motors (Eastern) TBM Avenger; Vought F4U Corsair; Curtiss SBC Helldiver; Consolidated F-7A Liberator; Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express; Lockheed P-38 Lightning; Stinson (Aircraft) L-5 Sentinel; and the Avro 685 York. The collection also contains a portable USB drive containing scans of each page of the scrapbook (in PDF format) made by the donor. The donor added text to the pages to transcribe handwritten notes on the reverse side of some of the photographs made by Glowka.
Biographical / Historical:
Edward J. Glowka (1926 to c. 1983) served with the U.S. Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Glowka was an Airplane and Engine Mechanic with the Air Transport Command. Glowka entered active service in July 1944 and was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in August 1946.
Provenance:
Anne Wood, Gift, 2013
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations Search this
